Determining the Association Between Individuals’ Trust in Healthcare Professionals and Their Attitudes Toward Traditional and Complementary Medicine

Objective: This study aimed to determine individuals’ level of trust in healthcare professionals (HCPs) and their attitudes toward traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM), and to investigate the association between them. Material and Methods: This study was conducted in the outpatient clinics of a university hospital between January and May 2025. Adults with prior healthcare experience completed a structured questionnaire consisting of the Descriptive Information Form, Trust in Healthcare Professionals Subscale, and T&CM Attitude Scale. Results: A total of 387 adults were included in the study. Overall, 40.8% of participants reported T&CM use, with cupping (56.3%) and phytotherapy (53.8%) being the most prevalent methods. The majority (82.9%) engaged in T&CM outside formal healthcare settings. The mean score for the Trust in Healthcare Professionals Subscale was 35.18 ± 6.79, while the mean score on the T&CM Attitude Scale was 108.88 ± 20.61. Regression analysis showed that trust in HCPs was negatively associated with attitudes toward T&CM (β = −.349, p < .001, R2 = .122). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of outpatients use T&CM, predominantly outside formal healthcare settings. Although the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, lower trust in HCPs was associated with more favorable attitudes toward T&CM. Individuals considering T&CM use should be informed and guided by HCPs during healthcare visits. Such guidance may reduce the potential risks associated with unsupervised use while strengthening trust in HCPs. Fostering communication based on trust and empathy, encouraging patient participation in health-related decision-making processes, and improving HCPs’ communication skills may further enhance trust in healthcare.